Serum neurofilament light as a potential marker of illness duration in bipolar disorder.

INTRODUCTION: Investigation on specific biomarkers for diagnostic or prognostic usage in mental diseases and especially bipolar disorder BD seems to be one outstanding field in current research. Serum neurofilament light (sNfL), a marker for neuro-axonal injury, is increased in various acute and chronic neurological disorders, but also neuro-psychiatric conditions, including affective disorders. The aim of our study was to determine a potential relation between a neuron-specific marker like sNfL and different clinical states of BD. METHODS: In the current investigation, 51 patients with BD and 35 HC were included. Mood ratings with the Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) and the Young mania rating scale (YMRS) have been included. Illness duration was defined as the period from the time of diagnosis out of self-report and medical records. sNFL was quantified by a commercial ultrasensitive single molecule array (Simoa). RESULTS: There was a significant positive correlation between the number of manic episodes in the past and sNfL, controlled for age and duration of illness. (R = 0.49, p = 0.03) Depressive episodes were not associated to sNfL values. (R = 0.311, p = n.s.) Patients with >3 years of illness duration showed significantly higher levels of sNfL (M18.59; SD 11.89) than patients with shorter illness duration (M = 12.38, p = 0.03) and HC (M = 11.35, p = 0.02). Patients with <3 years of illness and HC did not differ significantly in sNfL levels. DISCUSSION: Interestingly, individuals with BD and HC did not differ in sNFL levels in general. Nevertheless, looking at the BD cohort more specifically, we found that individuals with BD with longer duration of illness (>3 years) had higher levels of sNfL than those with an illness duration below 3 years. Our results confirm previous reports on the relation of neuro-axonal injury as evidenced by sNfL and illness specific variables in bipolar disorder. Further studies are needed to clarify if sNfL may predict the disease course and/or indicated response to treatment regimes.

Synthesis of hydroxyapatite/polyethylene glycol 6000 composites by novel dissolution/precipitation method: optimization of the adsorption process using a factorial design: DFT and molecular dynamic.

In this work, we presented a synthesis of a composite based on HAp and PEG 6000 using a new method of synthesis dissolution precipitation to be applied for application of wastewater purification from toxic metal ions. Multiple characterization methods were used to analyze the morphology and the structure of the well-prepared compounds including FT-IR, Raman, XRD, XPS, TGA and SEM were used to conduct a composite analysis. The adsorption effectiveness of this analysis towards Pb2+ and various other hazardous metal ions found in sewage was assessed. Batch experiments were conducted to optimize the various operational parameters including adsorbent dose, temperature, pH, contact time, and initial concentration. The Langmuir isotherm was used to fit the data, and it predicted monolayer adsorption with a maximum capacity of 67 mg g-1 for HAP PEG600 and 60 mg g-1 for HAp. A pseudo-second-order equation fits the adsorption process well (0.961-0.971). The thermodynamic data support the spontaneous metal bonding to the composite receptor sites. Theoretical calculations showed that the interaction strength is very strong and gets stronger when the PEG6000 is deprotonated. The results presented here are supported by evidence acquired from experiments. Theoretical computation using Monte Carlo (MC) and Molecular Dynamic (MD) simulation models showed excellent affinity of prepared foams for the model ion Pb2+ with highly negative adsorption energy values indicating vigorous interactions of Pb2+ with the adsorbate surfaces.

A one-year view on the association of metabolic syndrome and cognitive function in bipolar disorder - Preliminary data.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with bipolar disorder have a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome and an increased risk for cognitive deficits. The aim of this longitudinal study was to investigate the trajectory of cognitive decline in dependence of metabolic syndrome over a one-year interval. METHODS: 52 well-diagnosed individuals with bipolar disorder, euthymic at baseline and follow-up (n = 17 with metabolic syndrome vs. n = 35 without metabolic syndrome) were investigated with a comprehensive neurocognitive test battery (Trail Making Test A/B, Digit Symbol Test, California Verbal Leaning Test, or the Verbal Learning and Memory Test respectively) twice within the interval of one year. RESULTS: Patients with bipolar disorder and additional metabolic syndrome performed significantly worse in the domain of psychomotor and processing speed/attention than patients without metabolic syndrome at test point one. No deteriorating effects of metabolic syndrome on the cognitive domain scores and overall cognitive performance were found at the one-year follow up. However, no cognitive decline could be reported in both groups. LIMITATIONS: Time interval, small sample size and selection of metabolic syndrome affected patients were the major limitations of this study. CONCLUSION: There was no association of metabolic syndrome on the one-year trajectory of cognitive function in bipolar disorder. Future studies should expand the observation period and investigate larger samples.

Surgical Treatment of a Burns Case of 40% TBSA.

We describe the case of a two-year-old boy with massive burns. After the period of shock and sepsis, very successful four-phase operative treatment was performed, with combined skin grafting homograft plus autograft. With regard to the four surgical interventions, in the first two we used the above combined method, while in the other two we used grafting only with skin autograft. We also used the donor region of the epicranial scalp.

[Action of heavy metal salts on the development of sea urchin embryos and on protein synthesis by the cells of transplantable mouse tumors]. / Deistvie solei tiazhelykh metallov na razvitie zarodyshei morskikh ezhei i na sintez belkov kletkami myshinykh perevivnykh opukholei.

Zu, Cu, Cd, Pb and Hg salts blocked the cleavage divisions in the sea urchin embryos and, in lesser concentrations, affected gastrulation and induced postgastrulation defects. The early embryo- and cytotoxic effects of Zn salts appear to be based on the inhibition of protein synthesis. Unithiol exerted a protective effect. All salts under study inhibited protein synthesis in the Ehrlich's ascite carcinoma and ascite hepatoma 22a cells; unithiol and other suldhydryl compounds exerted in this case a good protective effect against Cd salts only.